Wednesday, April 1, 2009

25th Anniversary of first Indian flight into space

It was April 2nd, 1984 when first Indian went into space. Rakesh Sharma, then squadron leader and pilot with the Indian Air Force embarked on the historic mission in 1984 as part of a joint space program between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Intercosmos space program and spent eight days in space aboard the Salyut 7 space station. Launched along with two other Soviet cosmonauts aboard Soyuz T-11 on the 2 April 1984, was 35-year-old Rakesh Sharma. In a famous conversation, he was asked by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from the space and he replied, Saare Jahan Se Achcha, (better than the whole world). He was conferred with the honour of Hero of Soviet Union upon his return from space. The Government of India conferred its highest gallantry award(during peace time), the Ashoka Chakra on him and the other two Russian members of his mission. He also practiced the "Zero Gravity Yoga" aboard the Salyut 7.
Lets spend this day on the occasion of silver anniversary of these great memories of first trip of an Indian into space.
Cheers !

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